Wire-barb



(No Model;)

M. GREENE. WIRE BARB.

No. 380,884. Patented Apr. 10, 1888.

llNrTEn STATES PATENT rrrcng,

MERRITT GREENE, OF MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA.

WIRE=-BARu SPECIPIG'ATION iorming part of Letters Patent No. 380,884, dated April 10, 1888.

Application filcd October 2G, 1887. Serial No. 253,393. (No model.)

To aZZ 207mm it may coz/Learn:

Be it known that I, MERRITT GREENE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marshalltown, in the county of Marshall and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvcments in Vire-Barbs, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a Wire-barb whose ends terminate in needlepoints, and whose central portion is fiattened on one side for a sufficient distanoe to wrap en trely around the strand and form a shoulder which shall keep the barb always at right angles to the strand, and which constitutes a socket with sufficient bearing to prevent the barb from turning.

It is desirable in forming Wirebarbs to economize material as much as possible, and if the proper rigidity and firmness of the barb are secured I' have found that barb to be the best for practical purposes which wastes the sinallest amount of material in wrapping around the strand or stran ds of thefence which must support the barb. I have found, therefore, that a barb which is wrapped around only one strand is much preferable to one which is wrapped around both strands of the fence, if only the former can be rendered suffi ciently stiff to resist the onslaught of cat-tle. Some wirebarb manufacturers have thought it an improvement in barbs to make them somewhat yielding; but I have found that a reasonably stiff barb is preferable.

I am aware that comparativel y short barbs have been employed by giving a sort of bend to the center of the barb, so that it passes between the strands of the fence, and fiattening both sides ofthe barb, so that it is held by the bends of the barb; but I do not find such barbs possessing the usefulness and firmness requisite for use on barbwire fences, as the barb is much weakened by this double flattening; and I have made my barb, therefore, to form a complete turn around one of the strands, so that it cannot be detached therefrom without Cutting or nnwinding.

I am also aware that round or unflattened barbs have been made to form a complete turn on one of the strands by bending the barb sharply back to form a shonlder above and below the strand; but I do not find that such barbs have the requisite usefulness and firmness, and I have therefore fiattened the inner side of the center ofmybarbs to avoid the bend ing back and to secure a firmcr hold on the strand.

One form of the barb by which Iaccomplish the above desirable results is shown in the ac companying figures, in which* Figure l represents the barb as applied to the fence. Fig. 2 represents the barb before twisting. Fig. 3 shows the shape the barb takes when twisted on the strand, the strand itself not being shown.

Same letters indicate similar parts in the different figures.

A B are the two strands which twisted to gether form the cable of the fence.

G is a barb. This barb is made out of a piece of cylndrical wire of desired diameter, and is formed by fiattening one side of the central portion, as shown at a, for approximately the exact distance required to wrap around one of the strands A or B, and form ing sockets or Shoulders which enable them to grasp the strand very closely and firmly. The two ends of the barb'wire are then sharpened, as shown at b, into what are known as needle-points/7 and these points stand away from the Wire ready to receive and stop the force of cattle rushing against the fence.

The many advantages and desirable features of my improved barb are, I think, sufliciently obvious without further explanation.

I claim- A Wire-barb whose ends terminate in needle-points and whose central portion is fiattened on one side for a sufficient distanoe to wrap entirely around the strand and form a shoulder which shall keep the barb always at right angles to the strand, and which constitutes a socket with sufficient bearing to pren vent the barb from turning.

MERRITT GREENE.

VVitnesses:

RICHARD K. HIGHBERGER, W. LP. PREBLE, Jr. 

